attracting birds to a garden

[blinkyblinky]

My parents have a nice garden and they put up nets of peanuts which starlings and sparrows love. How can they attract other kinds of birds like wrens, finches, robins etc. It's nice to support the sparrow and starling population, but it would be nice to see more unusual birds now and then. Are there some kinds of foods which they can put out which only those other birds will eat, or is it the case that whatever they put out, the sparrows and starlings will eat anything that's going?

[andyjevs]

Do some research and grow certain plants that will attract birds.
Cottoneaster and other autumn/winter berried shrubs will attract blackbirds etc whilst having areas that attract slugs etc will encourage robins and thrushes.
Dense, prickly shrubs such as berberis will be good for tits whilst conifers will attract wrens.
A small area of water or a small pond for birds will bring many down including grey wagtails and long tail tits.

I am so lucky to look after a garden that supports an abundance of birdlife and other wildlife and that includes a large colony of Jays

Good luck

[Robinia]

As well as growing your own food as andy suggests you could try...

A general good quality mixed wild bird seed
&
black sunflower seeds - finches & tits love them
niger seed - for goldfinches
fat balls (mixed seed in preformed fatty ball) - all birds as well as squirrels love them)
raisins & an apple cut in half - for the blackbirds
crumbled buttery biscuits or mealworms, if you can get them, for the robins

I've greatly increased the bird visitors to my garden since putting out a variety of food, but it is a very shrubby garden with three trees so there's always somewhere safe for them to bob in & out of or stand & have a chat with their mates!!

[Robinia]

It's me again!

The RSPB is an excellent site - www.rspb.org.uk
but if your parents don't use a computer you could order them a little free brochure which has some useful information http://www.rspb.org.uk/gardens/booklet/

[Clanad]

In addition to these good answers, don't overlook the birds need for fresh water. A bird bath kept open in the winter months will draw numerous varieties... if it freezes over, there are inexpensive heaters that will help...

[logman]

As birds are all specialist feeders, you could try a bit of experementing with different types of food to give you an idea of what kind of birds are around in your neighbourhood, ie seeds and nuts will attract most birds but add some fat balls and you should soon start getting some of the insectiverous birds comming in. I've found its even possible to prevent squirels from hogging the lot, with the addition of a squirel baffle attatched to the feeding station. Song thrushes which have been on the decline of late seem to go mainly garden snails, you could place a large peble, maybe under a bush and they may well find it useful as an "Anvil" for cracking snail shells. Good luck.

[lankeela]

Niger seed attracts small birds with pointy beaks (especially goldfinches) because the others cannot pick it up so easily. You can get special niger seed feeders with tiny little slits in so only the little ones can get their beaks in to get the seed. It is often called Nyjer or even Nyjar seed (trying to be politically correct!).

lankeela

[WendyS]

A bird table will help, preferably a covered one so that food doesn't go wet and soggy when it rains.It may take a couple of weeks for the birds to get used to something new in the garden but once they get used to it they come in droves, especially in winter when it's cold and berries and insects start to disappear.

We also find that fatty oats (made up soaking up surplus fat from the grill pan), Atora shredded suet and grated cheese all disappear quickly.

[Sweet Pea]

Have you tried mealworms, robins love them so do other birds like sparrows and tits. Peanut in a feeder will bring woodpeckers. I have a set-up in my back garden with some twigs to get nice shots of birds.

Hopefully after I finish designing the new layout for my boyfriends website you will be able to see some of his photographic work. lots of british wildlife aswell as abroad.

If you want some surious notes contact me [email protected]

Our website is www.crossimages.com

" target="_blank">http://www.crossimages.com">www.crossimages.com

Sweet Pea.

[blinkyblinky]

Thanks everyone for replying - lots of great ideas.

[Torquemada25]

Aditionally I would suggests thistle seeds with a special feeder, for goldfinches and loose peanuts for jackdaws.

Waxworms will bring in a wide variety of birds, but are harder to get hold of than mealworms. Wax and mealworms are quite expensive and birds love them, so you tend to run out quickly.

I would recommend those coconut shells containing suet, mainly for starlings, and fat cakes containing fruit, always popular!